Okay, Not the Last Rites – It’s The Spring Time Movie Quiz
Periodically, blogger Dennis Cozzalio (he of the wonderfully titled Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule site and among the best regarded film blogs out there) opens up to welcome responses from his followers. His in-depth film knowledge and the thoughtful essays he gladly shares online attract many. The L.A.-stationed Mr. Cozzalio remains one of my long-time reads with regards to the moving picture. But beyond that, his semi-regular movie quizzes remain the stuff of legend. This week, he has come up with yet another of his cinematically off-the-wall but thoroughly inspired film exams for the allergy-laden season of Spring.
Psst… these are really interview questions for those who choose to take part.
Whether you are interested in avant-garde cinema (haughty, subtitled, or otherwise) or grindhouse fare (the delightfully smutty variety your mother warned you about), anyone interested in participating is welcome to do so. You can paste the questions and craft your answers into Google’s temperamental Blogger comment system in his post. Been there, done that (thank you very much). Or, do as I’ve learned to do years ago: post your answers on your own blog (if you have one) and leave a comment on Dennis’ post with a link back to your answers. So, on to the subject at hand:
SISTER CLODAGH’S SUPERFICIALLY SPIRITUAL, AMBITIOUSLY AGNOSTIC LAST-RITES-OF-SPRING MOVIE QUIZ
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
Tough choice as I wasn’t scarred by those cloistered ones growing up (as my wife was in her upbringing). So it’s a subject that I don’t viscerally react to like those with ruler-disfigured knuckles and guilt-panged souls (you won’t see Doubt listed here, therefore). I like the cheery variety of those in black & white habits (or those in films like Nude Nuns With Big Guns, see lead image above). Let’s see… I could choose the melodious ones from The Sound of Music (I can hear the groans emanating from my family as I write that). Okay, I’ll go with Ralph Nelson’s Lilies of the Field from 1963.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
That have to be Ronin (second only The Manchurian Candidate).
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
As I’ve probably seen more of Scott Brady‘s work through the years, I’ll go with Sheriff Frank from Gremlins:
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
I’d only do this for any of the Star Wars films that came after The Empire Strikes Back, if of course Irwin Kershner directed them and Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan wrote their screenplays.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
I got nothing.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
I’ll go with my usual response: Linda Darnell for the block, Dennis.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
The Mark of Zorro on my grandmother’s black & white TV in her living room (and now you know why I answered the previous question as I did).
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
It was during the penultimate reel of the George Steven’s biblical epic, The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) — why that occurred was detailed in this post a couple of years back on the old blog.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
This is a hard one. Both actors, as movie heroes or villains, in film noir or in westerns, were so damn good at their craft. I’ll go with Robert Mitchum in this case because I just re-watched his stellar work in Night of the Hunter (plus, he was mentioned so prominently in L.A. Confidential, one of my annual viewings).
Robert Mitchum as Rev. Harry Powell in NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
10) Best movie Jesus
I’ll continue the contemporaneous mood I have going here by selecting the figure from William Wyler’s 1959 version of Ben-Hur. (recently saw this on the big screen for the American Cinematheque’s Easter/Passover showing at the Egyptian Theatre). He has no dialogue and his face is never shown, but this character bears heavily in the film.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
That would be this one:
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Emily Blunt.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
Already covered it:
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
Just about any of the scenes with Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel talking to each other in The Happening.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
I’ll say David Farrar only because, given the amount of publicity and talk surrounding Michael Fassbender of late by everybody and their mother, I’m really reaching a saturation point with that talented actor.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
Many would say the same movie I just answered for the previous question.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
That would be the climatic sequence from Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz (1979).
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
The Big Sleep, just behind His Girl Friday and Red River
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
And not because Jean Harlow was blonde.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Theater: The Raven – DVD: Sword of Desperation – Blu-ray Disc: Thor – Streaming: Stander
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Phil Silvers
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
Humphrey Bogart, 26 years her senior, went from affair to marrying Lauren Bacall, after divorcing his wife of course.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
Martin Scorsese’s Kundun
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
I’ll go with Henry King who directed these favorites:
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Learn how to not shaky the friggin’ cam, along with frenetic editing. [Ted over at Flixchatter has it right]
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
I admit it here and now, I can’t get through Fellini Satyricon
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
Yes, but I’m probably in the minority.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Oh, Mary Wickes, of course. She has to be in so many of the things I watched (on TV and film) growing up. Plus, she had the gift of being funny.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
Don’t they all ;-).
To see all of my answers to every SLIFR movie quiz I’ve participated in, click here.
It Rains... You Get Wet 
20 Responses to “Okay, Not the Last Rites – It’s The Spring Time Movie Quiz”
You stole my thunder on #25 and #28! And thank you for #29– it’s my favorite movie of the year so far… (Okay, I haven’t had the chance to see that much, but still…)
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I got a distinct kick out of watching the new Three Stooges (along with most of the adults who brought their kids to the screening). Many thanks for another splendid movie quiz, Dennis.
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I had no clue Scott Brady played Sheriff Frank in GREMLINS. But that photo… now I see the resemblance to his brother, Lawrence Tierney.
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Now that you mention it, yeah there is that strong resemblance to Lawrence Tierney. Thanks, Tony.
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Nice job! I don’t think I have the courage OR the cinematic nous to answer most of these questions.
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Thanks, Naomi. I do get a lot of enjoyment filling out my answers to Dennis’ quizzes.
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Wow, Leo. Well done. I am in the process of writing my own answers to this quiz and I am astonished how many of our answers are the same. I’m going to have to rethink a few of them so it doesn’t seem like I’m plagiarizing you. 🙂
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Thanks very much, Damian. You got me real curious now about your answers. Come back and the post the link when you have it up.
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Very nice answers, Michael.
Oh I gotta check out The Mark of Zorro w/ Tyrone Power. Looks like fun! For #10, that’s my #2 favorite, VERY powerful without any dialog, my #1 is James Caviezel. And you know I love your answer for #26 😀
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Oh, yes. The Mark of Zorro w/ Tyrone Power is a swashbuckling blast of a classic. Basil Rathbone was a very accomplished swordsman in real life and his duel with Power as Zorro is one of the best. I’d love to see the rest of your answers to this movie quiz (hint, hint ;-)). Many thanks, Ruth.
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He..he.. well I’m afraid I don’t know the answers to some of the questions though, but thanks for the informal invite Michael 😀
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As I mentioned to Eric, you can chose to answer only those you’re comfortable with. You know I’d be interested in whatever you write up :-). Thanks.
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Great post, Michael, and a really fascinating batch of answers here. I have always wanted to do one of these quizzes, but there are always several questions I cannot adequately answer. Ah well, maybe next time! 🙂
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Thanks, Eric. Think about giving this one a good. Usually, those who participate only answer the questions they’re familiar or wish to answer. It’ entirely in the responders realm and comfort on what they chose to answer. I’d certainly be one who find your answers interesting.
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I love this. And for the record I also love Tremors…… 🙂
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Thanks, Scott. Tremors remains a blast even after all these years.
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What a fun list of questions and answers. I don’t know enough to answer some of the questions myself, but it was fun reading yours! very nice! Love the love you have for Ben Hur! oh, and Tremors too! 🙂
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I don’t know what it says about us that we can have the love for things like the iconic ‘Ben-Hur’ and the monster charm of ‘Tremors’, but I wouldn’t have it any other way, my friend. Thanks, T.
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Hi, Michael and Sergio:
Wow!
Gotta love ‘The Infield Fly Rule’!
#1/ ‘Lilies of the Field (Most touching) ‘The Trouble with Angels’ (Funniest)
#2/’The Train’. Followed closely by ‘Seconds’.
#3/Bill Bendix. A Hollywood staple through the 1940s and 50s.
#6/ Tough one! Anne Savage
#7/’The Thing from Another World’ on the family B&W Zenith.
#8/ ‘Winds Across the Everglades’. A great looking Audobon nature film with Burl Ives gave me nightmares after seeing it.
#9/Robert Mitchum. No one plays “Doomed with nowhere else to go” like he does. See ‘Out of the Past’ and ‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle and discover a master at work!
#11/ Toss up between ‘The Giant Claw’ from the 1950s. And its unintended 1982 Larry Cohen sequel, ‘Q’.
#12/Emily Blunt
#14/ A scene in ‘The Professionals’ where Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster are sitting and discussing tactics. And a horse in the background is taking a dump.
#16/ John Huston’s ‘Heaven Knows Mr. Allison’.
#18/ The very early on “Cattle Call” mass audition sequence to “On Broadway” in ‘All That Jazz’. A masterpiece of editing and music!
#19/ ‘Ball of Fire’ with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck’.
#23/ Phil Silvers
#26/ Budd Boetticher: King of low budget, Randolph Scott western.
#27/ Lose the shaky cam! Relax and let nature, sunlight and clouds add to a scene and make it even better.
#31/ ‘The Parallax View’. Still one of the best conspiracy flicks of the qo70s and beyond.
#32/ ‘The Ninth Configuration’. Great film. Awful title. With some of Stacy Keach’s best work under William Peter Blatty’s screenplay and direction.
Followed closely by Michael Mann’s ‘The Keep’.
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Great answers, Kevin! I’ve forwarded them to SLIFR, btw. We share an appreciation of so many films. Especially for The Thing from Another World, The Friends of Eddie Coyle, and The Ninth Configuration! Outstanding. Many thanks, my friend.
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